Vernon Francois.
The discovery of two bodies, in Fond St Jacque, Soufriere, on Tuesday, has caused the entire community to become fearful.
Members of the community have suggested that the homicides were drug related.
Police Commissioner Vernon Francois has also hinted that this may be true, especially since the area is known to have had marijuana farms that were destroyed by police.
However, this scenario is still to be confirmed.
“As we speak we have a contingent of police officers both from Castries and South in the area, conducting further searches and investigations,” Francois told the media at a press conference today.
Asked to comment on the protection of residents in the area, Francois said the police will do all it can to guarantee the safety of residents.
However, he encouraged residents to report any threats and come forward with any information that may lead the police to the criminals, who might be responsible for the killings.
The police chief suggested that persons, who may not want to report it directly to a police station, they can provide whatever information they have to a police they feel comfortable with.
“The fact of the matter is that in some of the cases where people still refuse to come forward and make reports to provide that information, the criminals may very well think that they could hide the information and that may present a threat to their lives also,” he stated.
Persons in the community are now trying to acquire firearm licenses, to protect their own safety and have suggested that the police make this process easier.
In addressing this issue, Francois said, “License firearm is provided on the basis of merit. If someone feels their life is under serious threat, they can make an application and it will be considered. But I am not going to make a pronouncement to give out firearm licenses.”
Meanwhile, the police chief said the force has not been able to determine whether there is any relation between the two bodies found in Fond St Jacque, Soufriere.
He told media operatives that based on the state of the decomposition of the second body, death could have occurred a few days earlier.
“But we are actively pursuing the matter. We have not yet been able to identify the second body. We are working with members of the community to get some identification,” he added.
The body of an unidentified male was discovered by police in the area yesterday. The body bore one gunshot wound to the abdomen.
That body was only discovered after police had searched the area earlier for a missing farmer, Victor Jn Phillip, who they later discovered with a gunshot wound to his head.